JPH07199340A - Film cartridge loading device for camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve operability and to guarantee the sureness of operation by providing a moving means for moving an engaging means to at least either a film cartridge loading position or a film cartridge taking out position. CONSTITUTION:In the midst of energizing in a forward direction, a moving member 18, an elevating member 20 and an engaging member 21 are integrally lowered by the rotation of a feed screw member 17 by a motor 16. In the case of lowering operation, the engaging part 21C of the engaging member 21 acts on the recessed surface 1C of the film cartridge 1 to surely lower the film cartridge 1. That is, by providing the engaging member engaged with the recessed part of the cartridge 1 and constituting it so that it can be moved up and down by the motor 16, the film cartridge 1 is motor-driven to be led in and pushed out from the cartridge chamber. Therefore, the operability is improved and the interface between the film cartridge and the engaging member is ensured.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a film cartridge loading device for a camera for loading or unloading a film cartridge into or from the camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, a camera adopting a method of inserting a film cartridge in the axial direction and storing it in a cartridge chamber has been proposed by the applicant of the present invention in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-241336. These are composed of an ejection spring for facilitating the ejection of the cartridge and a holding member for preventing the ejection of the cartridge against the ejection spring at the time of loading.

[0003]

However, in the above conventional example, when the cartridge is loaded, the photographer is
There is a drawback that the cartridge needs to be pushed all the way into the cartridge chamber, the operation is troublesome, and the reliable operation is not guaranteed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a film cartridge loading device for a camera, which can improve the operability and guarantee the reliability of the operation.

[0005]

To this end, the present invention relates to an engaging means that engages with a film cartridge and moves integrally with the film cartridge, and the engaging means for loading and unloading the film cartridge. A film cartridge loading device for a camera having a moving means for moving the film cartridge to at least one of the positions.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 11 show a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a film cartridge of this embodiment. 1 is a film cartridge,
A positioning hole 1a, a film outlet 1b, and a recess 1c are provided. A spool shaft 2 is wound with a film (not shown) and is rotatably supported on the film cartridge 1. Abutment surface 2 on the spool shaft 2
a, a positioning hole 2b, and a key groove 2c are provided, and can be rotated by a drive member described later. Although the structure on the reference surface 1d side of the film cartridge 1 has been described above, the spool shaft 2 is exposed also on the facing surface 1e side. Then, the film cartridge 1 has a mechanism in which a film (not shown) is fed out from the film outlet 1b by rotating the spool shaft 2 in the clockwise direction. Further, when the spool shaft 2 is rotated counterclockwise, the film is wound. Film cartridge 1
The ideal supporting method is to perform centering in the horizontal direction and axial positioning by the spool shaft 2 and a drive member described later, and to stop rotation in the horizontal direction using the positioning hole 1a.

Next, the structure of the cartridge chamber of the camera of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 is shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the layout of the cartridge chamber of the camera in which the cartridge is loaded, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration as viewed from A in FIG. 2, showing the state where the film cartridge has been loaded. Further, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration as viewed from B in FIG. 3, and shows a state where the film cartridge has been loaded.

First, the layout of the cartridge chamber will be described. 3 is a camera body, and 3a is a cartridge chamber. In FIG. 2, the film cartridge 1 is
Loading is performed with the reference surface side 1d facing down. A film 4 is guided to the tunnel 3c through the guide portion 3b. The details of the method for holding the film are publicly known and will not be described. Further, the photographing optical system, the exposure control means, the film winding means, etc. are conventionally well known and the description in this embodiment is omitted.

Next, the positioning of the film cartridge 1 will be described. In FIG. 3, reference numerals 5 and 6 denote holding plates, which are fixed to the camera body 3. In addition, 7 is
It is a positioning pin and is fixed to the holding plate 5. A driving member 9 is rotatably supported by a shaft 8 formed integrally with the holding plate 6. Reference numeral 9a is a positioning shaft portion, 9b is an abutting reference surface, and 9c is a key portion, which are provided in the driving member 9, respectively, and are used for positioning holes 2b of the film cartridge 1,
It acts on the abutting surface 2a and the key groove 2c to enable positioning and rotation transmission of the film cartridge 1. The cartridge chamber 3a and the film cartridge 1 are not in contact with each other. The power transmitted from the motor c (not shown) is transmitted to the gear portion 9d of the drive member 9, and the drive member 9 is rotationally driven in both the forward and reverse directions, so that the film 4 is fed and wound.

A slide lid 10 has a shaft 11 fixed thereto. A pressing member 12 is rotatably fitted to the shaft 11, and is biased by a spring 13 in a direction to press the spool shaft 2 of the film cartridge 1. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the slide lid 19 is closed, and the pressing member 12 is brought into contact with the taper portion 2d of the spool shaft 2 so that the center side of the facing surface side 1e of the film cartridge 1 and the abutting reference of the abutting surface 2a are referenced. It guarantees the contact with the surface 9b. A rack is formed on the end surface of the slide lid 10 and meshes with the pinion 14. A motor A 15 rotates the pinion 14 in both forward and reverse directions via a reduction gear train (not shown) to open / close the slide lid 10. A lid opening detection switch and a lid closing detection switch, which will be described later, are provided as means for detecting the completion of this operation.

Next, the mechanism for retracting and extruding the film cartridge 1 will be described. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 16 denotes a motor B, which can rotate forward and backward. The output of the motor 16 is transmitted to the gear portion 17a of the feed screw member 17 via a reduction gear train (not shown). The feed screw member 17 is rotatably supported by the camera body 3, and has a feed screw portion 17b.
have. Reference numeral 18 denotes a moving member, which is the feed screw portion 18
a (see FIG. 2), meshes with the feed screw portion 17b,
It moves up and down in conjunction with the rotation of the feed screw member 17. Less than,
It is assumed that the moving member 18 descends when the motor B16 is energized in the forward direction and the moving member 18 rises when energized in the reverse direction of the motor B16. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 19 denotes a shaft attached to the camera body 3, which acts on the rotation restricting hole 18b to move the moving member 18.
To prevent rotation. In FIG. 4 again, reference numeral 20 denotes an elevating member, which is attached to the moving member 18,
8 can be slid up and down with respect to the guide pin 18c fixed to 8 within the range regulated by the slide hole 20a. Two
Reference numeral 7 denotes an absorbing spring, which acts on the moving member 18 and the protrusions 18d and 20d of the elevating member 20 to pull the elevating member 20 upward with respect to the moving member 18. 20 of the lifting member 20
Reference numeral c is a push-up surface, which acts on the reference surface side 1d when the film cartridge 1 is pushed up. 20d is the lifting member 2
It is a position detection protrusion of 0, and its operation will be described later.
Reference numeral 21 denotes an engaging member, the shaft portion 21a of which is rotatably supported by the elevating member 20. Reference numeral 22 denotes a spring, which acts on the elevating member 20 and the protrusions 20e and 21b of the engaging member 21, and rotates the engaging member 21 in the counterclockwise direction to a position regulated by the stopper 20f of the elevating member 20 to urge the spring. is doing. 21c is an engaging portion of the engaging member 21,
During the lowering operation, it acts on the concave surface 1c of the film cartridge 1 to surely lower the film cartridge 1. 23
Is a guide pin and is fixed to the camera body 3.
The guide pin 23 acts on the cam surface 21d of the engaging member 21 when the moving member 18 moves upward, and causes the engaging member 21 to move toward the spring 2.
It has a function to rotate the film in the clockwise direction against 2 to release the engaged state between the engaging portion 21c and the concave portion 1c, and to take out the film cartridge 1. During the above operation, the absorption spring 27 has a spring balance that ensures that the elevating member 20 and the moving member 18 move integrally.

24 is a switch A, 25 is a switch B, 2
Reference numeral 6 denotes a switch C, which is adapted to change from an on state to an off state by the action of the position detecting projection 20d of the elevating member 20. The switch A24 functions as a film cartridge loading detection switch, the switch B25 functions as a film cartridge lowering operation end detection, and the switch 26 functions as a film cartridge raising operation end detection.

An important point in the above construction is that the engaging member 21 acts on the concave portion 1c of the film cartridge 1 only when the film cartridge 1 is lowered (retracted). As shown in FIG. 4, when the abutting surface 2a is in contact with the abutting reference surface 9b, the engaging portion 21c and the concave portion 1c do not act, and the film cartridge 1 is pressed by the pressing member 12. In this state, the push-up surface 20c is also retracted from the reference surface side 1d of the film cartridge 1 of the film cartridge 1. As the pull-in / push-out mechanism of the film cartridge 1, it may be possible to drive by a friction roller contacting the outer shape in addition to the above method, but it is difficult to guarantee the driving force in the method relying on the friction force.
Further, since the outer shape is still pressed, it is difficult to realize the above-mentioned ideal supporting method, and this embodiment is preferable.

Next, each operating state of the above mechanism will be described. 5 and 6 correspond to FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively, and show the state where the film cartridge has been completely lifted. In contrast to the states shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the slide lid 10 is changed to the open state via the pinion 14 by the forward energization of the motor A15. In this state, the lid opening detection switch (not shown) is turned on. After the above operation, the motor B16 is energized in the reverse direction and the feed screw member 17 acts to raise the moving member 18 and the position detection protrusion 20d causes the switch C26 to turn off and stop the energization of the motor B16. ing. In this state, the engagement member 21 is rotated clockwise by the action of the guide projection 23 and the cam surface 21d, and the engagement state of the engagement portion 21c and the concave portion 1c is released, so that the photographer can attach the film cartridge 1 to the film cartridge 1. It can be easily grasped and taken out.

Next, FIG. 7 will be described. FIG. 7 shows FIG.
In this case, the state in which the film cartridge loading operation by the photographer is detected is shown. When the photographer drops the film cartridge 1 into the cartridge chamber 3a, the weight of the film cartridge 1 first becomes as shown in FIG. 6, and when the film cartridge 1 is further pushed with a finger, the reference surface side 1d of the film cartridge 1 pushes up the pushing surface 20c of the elevating member 20. The guide portion 18c is pressed against the absorption spring 27.
And falls within the range regulated by the guide hole 20a. Also,
At this time, the contact between the guide protrusion 23 and the cam surface 21d is also released, the engaging member 21 is rotated counterclockwise by the urging force of the spring 22, and the engaging portion 21c enters the engaging area with the recess 1c. ing. At this time, the switch A24 is turned off by the action of the position detection protrusion 21d. With this signal as a signal, the motor 16 is energized in the forward direction, and the moving member 18 descends and passes through the absorption region of the elevating member 20 by the absorption spring 21 immediately before releasing the finger, and the engaging portion 21c of the engaging member 21 is The concave portion of the film cartridge 1 is engaged, and the drawing operation of the film cartridge 1 is started.

FIG. 8 shows the drawing operation of the film cartridge 1 described above. The motor 16 is energized in the forward direction, and the rotation of the feed screw member 17 causes the moving member 1 to move.
8, the elevating member 20, and the engaging member 21 are integrally lowered, and the film cartridge 1 is in the process of being retracted by the action of the engaging portion 21c and the recess 1c. Figure 8
The film cartridge 1 is in the cartridge chamber 3a.
If it falls ideally without contacting the wall surface of the film, it can be lowered without the engaging member 21, but the camera is tilted or the film cartridge 1 is pulled in when the camera is in the reverse position. When the switch B25 is turned off and the motor A15 is energized in the reverse direction to close the slide lid 10, it interferes with the film cartridge 1 and malfunctions.
The existence of is necessary.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a circuit for performing the above operation.

In FIG. 9, reference numeral 51 denotes a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as MPU), in which the left side is an input signal and the right side is an output signal. Reference numeral 52 is a lid opening switch, and 53 is a lid closing switch, which is turned on when the photographer manually operates. 54 is a lid opening detection switch, 5
Reference numeral 5 denotes a lid closing detection switch, which is an operation completion detection switch for the slide lid 10. Switch A24, switch B2
5. The switch C26 is a switch that detects the movement of the elevating member 20 as described above.

The drive motor A15 for the slide lid 10 is driven via a motor driver 56. The slide lid 10 is opened by forward power supply, and the slide lid 1 is opened by reverse power supply.
0 performs a closing operation. Motor B16 for driving the moving member 18
Are driven via the motor driver 57. The moving member 18 descends when the current is applied in the forward direction, and rises when the current is applied in the opposite direction. The motor C59 is for driving the drive member 9 and is the motor driver 5
It is driven through 8, and the film is sent out by energizing in the forward direction,
The film is wound by energizing in the reverse direction. Reference numeral 60 is a warning circuit for issuing various warnings.

Next, the operation of the circuit of FIG. 9 when the lid opening switch 52 is turned on will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 10 showing the operation of the MPU 51. When the lid opening switch 52 is turned on in step 101, the process proceeds to step 102 and the switch C2
6 is detected. When off, the lifting member 20 is shown in FIG.
If it is determined that the motor A15
Then, the slide lid 10 is opened. When the lid opening switch 54 is turned on in step 104, step 10
At 5, the power supply to the motor A15 is stopped. Next step 1
At 06, it waits for the switch A24 to turn off. This is a sequence for detecting that the photographer inserts the film cartridge 1 into the cartridge chamber 3a in the state of FIG. 6 and further pushes it to the state of FIG. When the switch A24 is turned off, the motor B16 is energized in the forward direction in step 107. When the switch B25 is turned off in step 108, the energization of the motor B16 is stopped in step 109. In this state, the elevating member 20 and the film cartridge 1 are in the state shown in FIG. 4, and the retracting operation of the film cartridge 1 is completed. In step 110, the motor A15 is energized in the reverse direction to close the slide lid 10. When the lid close detection switch 55 is turned on in step 111, the process proceeds to step 112 to stop energization of the motor A15. This state is the state shown in FIG. 4, and the loading sequence of the film cartridge 1 is completed. Next step 1
Proceed to 13 to start execution of the feeding sequence. Specifically, the motor C59 (not shown) is energized in the forward direction to start the film feeding operation, and the operation of the camera is sequentially controlled according to a predetermined sequence. Details of the subsequent sequence are omitted in this embodiment.

Next, the state where the switch C26 is not turned off in step 102 will be described. That is, the lifting member 2
0 is not the state of FIG. It proceeds to step 114 and checks whether the switch B25 is off. If it is not turned off, it means that the elevating member 20 is not in the state shown in FIG. 4, which is an originally impossible state, and the process proceeds to step 115, where the warning circuit 60 gives an abnormality warning. If it is off, it is checked in step 116 whether the film rewinding is completed. If not completed, the process proceeds to step 117, and the warning circuit 60 warns that the shooting is still in progress. If the film rewinding is completed, the process proceeds to step 118, the motor A15 is energized in the forward direction to open the slide lid 10,
When the lid opening detection switch 54 is turned on in step 119, the process proceeds to step 120 to stop the energization of the motor A15. Next, in step 121, the motor B16 is energized in the reverse direction to eject the film cartridge 1. When the switch C26 is turned off in step 122, step 123
Then, the power supply to the motor B16 is stopped. This state is the state shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of the circuit of FIG. 9 when the lid closing switch 53 is turned on will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 11 showing the operation of the MPU 51. When the lid closing switch 53 is turned on in step 201, the motor A15 is energized in the reverse direction in step 202 to start the closing operation of the slide lid 10. The thrust timer of step 203 is counted from the start of energization, and the step 20 is started within a predetermined time.
When the lid closing detection switch 55 of 4 is turned on, step 205
Then, the power supply to the motor A15 is stopped and the closing operation is completed. If the time limit of the thrust timer is exceeded in step 203, the photographer operates the lid close switch 53 and determines that the slide lid 10 cannot be closed while the cartridge is still inserted, as shown in FIG. Step two
In step 207, the energization of the motor A15 is stopped, energization of the motor A15 in the forward direction is started, and the opening operation of the slide lid 10 is performed again. When the lid opening detection switch 54 is turned on in step 208, the energization of the motor A15 is stopped in step 209, the process proceeds to step 20, and the warning circuit 60 gives an erroneous operation warning.

12 to 15 are views showing a second embodiment of the present invention. While the first embodiment shows the electric drive type of the slide lid 10 by the motor A15, the present embodiment shows an example in which a hinge type lid which is opened and closed by a manual operation is adopted.

12 to 15, the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 12 is a view showing the relationship with the lid after the film cartridge 1 is loaded. First, this mechanism will be described with reference to FIG. The configurations related to the film cartridge 1, the driving member 9 that drives the spool shaft 2, and the elevating / lowering member 20 that has a function of retracting and pushing out the film cartridge 1 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Reference numeral 302 denotes a hinge-type lid, the shaft 302a of which is rotatably supported by the camera body 301. Reference numeral 303 denotes a lock member, which is the slide operation unit 3
03a, a locking portion 303b, and a taper portion 303c for one-touch locking when the lid is closed. The lock member 303 is spring-biased by a spring 304 toward the protruding side where the locking portion 303b engages with the locking portion 301a of the camera body 101. Reference numeral 308 is a lid detection pin, and 309 is a lid detection switch, which is turned off in the lid closed state of FIG. 12 and turned on in the lid open state of FIG. 305 is a holding member, 306 is a shaft, 30
Reference numeral 7 denotes a spring, which is the same in structure and function as in the first embodiment, and therefore the description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 13 shows the end of raising the film cartridge 1 (corresponding to FIG. 6 of the first embodiment), in which the pressing member 305 is in contact with the facing surface side 1e of the film cartridge 1, and When the hinge type lid 102 is closed, the film cartridge 1 descends, the state corresponding to FIG. 7 of the first embodiment is reached, and the automatic retraction of the film cartridge 1 is started. Although not shown, the hinge type lid 302 may be provided with an opening direction urging spring in order to improve operability.

In the above construction, the film cartridge 1 can be pushed in by the hinge type lid 302 in order to reduce the number of operations, but the photographer directly pushes in the film cartridge 1 with a finger. However, it goes without saying that the automatic pull-in operation starts.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a circuit for performing the above operation. Reference numeral 310 denotes an MPU. In the figure, the left side is an input signal and the right side is an output signal. Thirty
Reference numeral 9 denotes a lid detection switch, which is turned off when the hinge type lid 302 is closed and is turned on when the hinge type lid 302 is opened. Switch A24, switch B
25, switch C26, motor driver 57, motor B
16, the motor driver 58, and the motor C59 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the lid detection switch 309 of the circuit shown in FIG.
15 shows the operation of the MPU 301 when the power is turned on.
It will be described in accordance with the flowchart of. Hinge type lid 3
When the lock member 303 of No. 02 is operated and opened, the lid detection switch 309 is turned on in step 401, and step 40
If the switch C26 is off in step 2, step 403
And waits for switch A24 to turn off. That is, the film cartridge 1 is dropped into the cartridge chamber, and
Wait until it is pushed in again from the state of switch A24
When is turned off, the routine proceeds to step 303, where the motor B16 is energized in the forward direction to pull in the film cartridge 1. When the switch B25 is turned off in step 405, the energization of the motor B16 is stopped in step 406, and the drawing sequence of the film cartridge 1 is completed.
Next, when it is detected in step 407 that the lid detection switch 309 is turned off, the feeding sequence of step 408 is entered, the motor C59 (not shown) is driven, and the film feeding operation is started.

If the switch C26 is not turned off in step 402, the process proceeds to step 409 and the switch B is turned on.
Check if 25 is off. If it is not turned off, since it is an impossible state originally, the process proceeds to step 410 and the warning circuit 60 gives an abnormal warning. If the switch B25 is off, the process proceeds to step 411, and if the rewinding of the film is not completed, it is considered that the film is being photographed, and the process proceeds to step 412 where the warning circuit 60 gives a warning of an erroneous operation. If film rewinding is complete, step 4
13, the motor B16 is energized in the reverse direction to push up the film cartridge 1. Step 41
When the switch C26 is turned off in step 4, the energization of the motor B16 is stopped in step 415, and the extrusion sequence of the film cartridge 1 is completed. In this state, the photographer can easily grab and take out the film cartridge 1. Even if the photographer takes out the film cartridge 1 and then closes the hinge type lid 302, the camera does not react. When the hinge type lid 302 is opened and the lid detection switch 309 is turned on, step 401 is forcibly performed.
Go to.

According to the above embodiment, the engaging member which engages with the concave portion of the film cartridge is provided, and the motor can be moved up and down, so that the film cartridge can be pulled in and out by the electric drive. ,
The operability is greatly improved, and at the same time, the interface with the film cartridge becomes reliable, which ensures the reliable operation.

As a driving source for loading or unloading the cartridge, the driving force of the motor is not used,
It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied by using other driving force such as a spring or manual operation.

Needless to say, the present invention can be widely applied to not only film cartridges but also other types of cartridges, batteries, etc. that are loaded into or taken out from the camera.

Further, in the present invention, each of the above embodiments or their technical elements may be combined as required.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a film cartridge loading device for a camera that can improve the operability and guarantee the reliability of the operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a film cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a layout diagram of a cartridge chamber of the camera of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a completed state of loading a film cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a completed state of loading the film cartridge according to the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a completed state of the film cartridge ascending according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a state where the film cartridge of the first embodiment of the present invention has been completely lifted.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a film cartridge loading operation detection state according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a film cartridge retracting operation in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a circuit of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the circuit shown in FIG.

11 is a flowchart of the circuit of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a lid closed state of the cartridge chamber according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

13 is a view showing a state where the lid of the cartridge chamber of FIG. 12 is opened.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a circuit of a second embodiment of the present invention.

15 is a flowchart of the circuit shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Film Cartridge 1c Recess 2 Spool Shaft 7 Positioning Pin 9 Driving Member 10 Slide Lid 12 Holding Member 15 Motor A 16 Motor B 17 Motor Screw 17 Feed Screw Member 18 Moving Member 20 Elevating Member 21 Engagement Member 24 Switch A 25 Switch B 26 Switch C 51 MPU 102 Hinge type lid 103 Locking member 105 Holding member 109 Lid detection switch

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An engaging means for engaging a film cartridge and moving integrally with the film cartridge, and a moving means for moving the engaging means to at least one of a loading position and a unloading position of the film cartridge. And a film cartridge loading device for a camera.